Contenders line up for 2005 Giro

Or, could it be Gilberto Simoni?What about Paolo Savoldelli?And we shouldn?t ignore Stefano Garzelli?

The 2005 edition of the Giro d?Italia does not lack for contenders.

Cunego, last year?s surprise winner, arrives at this year?s start line in apparent good form.He won a stage in last week?s Tour de Romandie.

But how will Cunego handle the pressure of being a favourite?Unlike last year when he began the race in the shadow of Simoni, this year he will be in everyone?s sights.

As will Basso, who will arrive at Saturday?s start line with no significant spring results but retaining the glow of his runner-up performance in last year?s Tour de France.

What makes this year?s Giro intriguing, at least before its start, is the presence of previous winners Simoni, Salvoldelli and Garzelli.

The three have dominated the Giro since 2000 ? until last year.And even then, Simoni managed to reach the podium in third place.

This year, each comes to the race with signs of improved form, if not exactly absolute rejuvenation.

Simoni, winner of the Giro in 2001 and 2003, won a stage in the Paris-Nice race in March and was again a winner recently in Italy.Because the spotlight is on Cunego, Simoni can relax. Should Cunego falter he could be Lampre-Caffita?s main guy.

Liquigas-Bianchi has designated Garzelli and ProTour Leader Danilo Di Luca as their team leaders.Garzelli won the race in 2000.His team manager, Roberto Amadio, feels he is a contender but also feels Michele Scarponi of the Spanish team Liberty Seguros-W?rth should not be overlooked, nor SergueiGonchar (Domina Vacanze), runner-up last year to Cunego.

Amadio also said several finishes in the first 10 stages should be very suitable for Di Luca and also for T-Mobile?s Eric Zabel.